The Strange Case of Harry Potter Author and the Magic Marker Clearly, It's Not Vandalism If You're Hugely Successful

Summary

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HOW successful do you have to be to transform an act of vandalism into a priceless gift? If you or I spent a few nights in room 652 at the Balmoral Hotel in Edinburgh, and, shortly before departure decided to deface a marble bust with a magic marker, the hotel would, quite correctly, call us to account. We would be asked to explain our actions and pay to have the statue returned to its original state.

"Sir," the duty manager would explain in that tone of polite contempt, "we simply cannot have guests wielding pens against defenceless statues. This is a hotel, sir, not a nursery. If you must practise calligraphy, the room is equipped with complimentary paper and pen."

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The Strange Case of Harry Potter Author and the Magic Marker Clearly, It's Not Vandalism If You're Hugely Successful

If I explained that I was moved with delight upon completion of my latest book, the manager would squint, purse his lips and say: "Well, sir, could you tell me your global sales?"

"A...

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